India has sent a team of its geologists to Zambia to look for copper and cobalt as part of its bigger plan to secure minerals needed for its clean energy shift. This step comes as the South Asian country continues to depend more on electric vehicles and green energy systems, which require materials like cobalt and copper. According to two top Indian government officials who spoke anonymously, India’s plan is to explore a huge area in Zambia and bring most of the findings back to India for analysis.
The Zambian government had earlier this year approved the allocation of about 9,000 square kilometres of land—roughly the size of Enugu State—to India for mineral exploration. The focus will be on cobalt and copper. Cobalt is used to make batteries for electric cars and mobile phones, while copper is widely used in power generation, electronics, and the building industry.
According to one of the sources, the Indian team will stay in Zambia for three years for the exploration phase. They will visit the country many times during this period to carry out physical surveys and collect samples. These samples will then be analysed in Indian laboratories. The source further said that after this three-year exploration period, India will consider applying for a mining lease from the Zambian government.
If the results look promising, the Indian government may invite private companies from India to take part in the mining project. This could bring more investment and development into the Zambian mining sector, which is already a key part of the country’s economy. Zambia is one of the largest producers of copper in Africa, and its copper belt has long attracted foreign investors from China, Europe, and now India.
The Indian Ministry of Mines has not yet issued a public statement on the matter, and did not respond to requests for comment. However, Indian officials confirmed that the government is in talks with several African countries, including Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to secure access to critical minerals. These talks are happening at a time when many global powers are racing to control resources necessary for renewable energy technologies.
India is also eyeing other regions, such as Australia and Latin America, to reduce its dependence on mineral imports. Earlier this year, an Indian delegation visited the DRC for a mining conference and toured some of the country’s major cobalt and copper mines. The visit was made public through a social media post by the Ministry of Mines.
These activities are part of India’s wider plan to avoid falling behind in the race for critical minerals. The global market for copper is getting tighter, and prices have been rising. India’s internal discussions have shown concern over this growing pressure. The government is also said to be looking at how to include discussions on mineral access during current trade talks with other countries.
The situation became more urgent after the shutdown of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper smelter in Tamil Nadu in 2018, which left India with a large gap in domestic copper supply. As a result, copper imports have increased steadily. In the financial year ending in March 2025, India imported 1.2 million metric tons of copper. That was a 4% increase compared to the previous year.
As for cobalt, India almost completely depends on imports to meet its needs. In the 2024/25 fiscal year, India imported 693 metric tons of cobalt oxide, which was a 20% rise from the previous year. These numbers underline the urgency for India to secure stable supplies of both metals to fuel its industrial growth and transition to green energy.
By teaming up with Zambia and possibly other African nations, India hopes to establish long-term partnerships that will ensure a steady flow of minerals. This move also reflects the shifting dynamics in global mineral politics, as countries like India seek to balance economic growth with environmental goals.
While nothing is confirmed yet regarding actual mining activity, the current exploration effort is a strong signal that India is serious about becoming a major player in the critical minerals market. For Zambia, the partnership could bring new investments, job opportunities, and closer ties with one of the world’s largest emerging economies.
